Too Hard to Forget: Romancing the Clarksons #3 by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey comes to the blog today with the third book in her Romancing the Clarksons series, this one narrated by Greyson Ash.

Too Hard to Forget

Peggy is the youngest sister: bold, thoughtful, brash, brave and often impulsive: there’s something or someone who hurt her badly – and while she plays with her former bubbly self, it’s apparent to her mother, however distant, that there’s more to her story and issues than their more than dysfunctional family. And Peggy is determined to get something of her own back – so an alumni weekend is the perfect time. She’ll be sure to face off with Elliott, and lay those ghosts to rest.

Elliott – ugh. He was self-serving, stuck in his own guilt circle about his now dead wife and his attachment to the very alive Peggy. His guilt over his behavior isn’t particularly difficult to see – it’s just the inability he shows to change his attitude: his superiority, his judgment and his ability to focus on his work and maintain that cold manner no matter what. He’s an ass, with little ability to see just how much damage his words and his constant fobbing off Peggy have done to her…and he’s not good at staying away from all of the emotions, chemistry and pain that her return has brought back.

The chemistry here between them was intense, but it was hard to reconcile Peggy so wanting a man who was so dismissive and hurtful, with his retreat into schoolboy Catholicism and guilt – not for how badly he acted but his constant belief that somehow he wronged his wife and daughter with new affections for another. Constantly I felt myself wanting Peggy to see that she was worth more than someone who was half in at the best of times, and usually willing to toss her to the wolves when he was particularly guilty. I was happy to see him finally come to his senses, and grovel, but I wanted Peggy to work out just why she wanted someone so decidedly unformed and wishy-washy when it comes to her feelings and needs before that point. He did – sort of….. but Dare played these two from totally toxic to working it all out for them both to be better with flair.

Narration for this story is provided by Greyson Ash, and she managed to provide that almost frenetic energy that was Peggy in her ‘youngest’ role that was often aggressively apparent in times when she was most unsure. Elliott was exactly as I expected: a slightly dismissive and pompous ‘I know best’ attitude that only Peggy derailed. From his sorrow to coldness, to his recognition of the hurt he caused (at least superficially) with his retreat and pushing her aside, he was solidly present as well, and the layers and depths added to these characters from the performance did add to the story in ways I didn’t expect. An interesting, if not my favorite installment to the series, with unexpected issues handled in ways that felt natural and human, and often in conflict.

Peggy Clarkson is returning to her alma mater with one goal in mind: confront Elliott Brooks, the man who ruined her for all others, and remind him of what he's been missing. Even after three years, seeing him again is like a punch in the gut, but Peggy's determined to stick to her plan. Maybe then, once she has the upper hand, she'll finally be able to move on.

In the years since Peggy left Cincinnati, Elliott has kept his focus on football. No distractions and no complications. But when Peggy walks back onto his practice field and into his life, he knows she could unravel everything in his carefully controlled world. Because the girl who was hard to forget is now a woman impossibleto resist.

A copy of this title was provided via Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen historical romances. A librarian by training and a book-lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kittens.